Common Reasons Alcohol Shipments Are Held at Customs
When an importer is told that an alcohol shipment is “on customs hold,” the phrase often creates more confusion than clarity. The cargo may be under routine CBP review, selected for examination, formally detained by CBP, pending FDA review, detained by FDA, subject to Detention Without Physical Examination (DWPE), or fully released by the government […]
Customs Clearance for Alcoholic Beverages: What Commercial Importers Should Expect
Customs clearance for commercial wine, beer and spirits starts before the vessel, truck or aircraft reaches the United States. By arrival, the customs team should already know who the importer is, how the product is classified, which TTB and FDA requirements apply, what value and origin will be declared, whether the customs bond is ready […]
Importing Wine vs. Beer vs. Spirits: Key U.S. Import Differences
Importing wine, beer or distilled spirits into the United States follows the same broad commercial framework, but the details can change materially once the beverage changes. Product definitions affect which TTB labeling rules apply, whether formula approval is needed, which certificates may be required, how federal excise tax is calculated and what information the customs […]
Documents Needed to Import Alcohol into the United States
Commercial alcohol imports depend on more than having the right permits. The customs broker also needs a shipment file that accurately describes what was sold, how it is packed, where it came from, who manufactured it, which approvals apply, and how it is moving to the United States. For most commercial shipments, the core import […]
TTB, FDA and CBP Requirements for Alcohol Imports
An alcohol shipment can have a valid TTB permit and still not be ready for U.S. entry. It can have an approved label and still have an FDA data problem. And filing FDA Prior Notice does not replace the customs entry required by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Commercial alcohol imports can involve three […]
Do You Need an Alcohol Import License? Federal and State Requirements
If you plan to import wine, beer, or spirits into the United States for commercial sale, one of the first questions is whether you need an alcohol import license. In most cases, the federal authorization a commercial importer is looking for is not called a “liquor import license” at all. It is a TTB Federal […]
How to Import Alcohol into the USA: Complete Commercial Import Checklist
Importing alcohol commercially into the United States is not one customs filing. Before wine, beer, spirits, cider, or another alcoholic beverage moves, the importer may need to coordinate federal business authorization, product and label approvals, FDA food-import requirements, customs entry data, taxes and duties, and state alcohol rules. To import alcohol into the USA commercially, […]
What Happens When Imported Cargo Is Not Cleared? General Order, Storage and Next Steps
Your carrier says the freight cannot be released. Your customs broker is waiting on a document, payment, entry correction, or another clearance requirement. Then someone tells you the shipment may be sent to a General Order warehouse. That changes the problem. General Order is not simply another name for “customs has a hold.” It is […]
Bonded Warehousing Costs: Storage, Handling and Customs Fees
There is no single bonded warehouse cost that applies to every commercial shipment. Bonded warehouse charges can include storage, receiving, unloading, handling, inventory administration, authorized manipulation, and outbound services. An importer may also pay separate transportation, customs brokerage, bond-related, government, carrier, or terminal costs that are not part of the warehouse provider’s storage fee. The […]
How Long Can Imported Goods Remain in a Bonded Warehouse?
The clock starts from the date of importation. That is different from several dates an operations team might see in its warehouse or transportation systems. Do not assume the bonded-storage period begins when: a drayage provider delivers the container to the warehouse; a warehouse creates an internal receipt or inventory record; an importer decides to […]
